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      09-09-2019, 09:18 AM   #1
lukehhhhh
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DIY dash cam hard wiring

I have managed to find the pair of vehicle wiring to tap into for hard wire your dash cam. The wiring can be located inside the top console. Power are only provide to these wires when the vehicle is ON. They turn on and off at the same time as 12V and USB sockets in the car.

You'll need:
1. 12V to 5V USB dash cam hard wire adapter
2. Hex type screw head

Hopefully my instructions are clear and simple to follow.
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Last edited by lukehhhhh; 09-09-2019 at 09:24 AM..
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      09-09-2019, 09:20 AM   #2
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Nice. I love how minimally invasive it is versus the traditional tap into the fuse box. I might have to give this a try!
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      09-09-2019, 10:08 AM   #3
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Great info! You save me a bunch of time trying to figure out the wires myself. Much appreciated.
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      09-09-2019, 05:29 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JFU View Post
Nice. I love how minimally invasive it is versus the traditional tap into the fuse box. I might have to give this a try!
For my cars I always try and figure out if any of the overhead wiring will do the job.
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      09-09-2019, 05:33 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Defib View Post
Great info! You save me a bunch of time trying to figure out the wires myself. Much appreciated.
I used a multimeter to find the wires that provided 12V power when engine is on. Switch off the engine and wait until the 12V socket and car USB to turn off. Then retest the wires from step 1, if any of the wire pairs voltage drops off, then Bingo!

Last edited by lukehhhhh; 09-09-2019 at 05:45 PM..
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      09-09-2019, 09:04 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
I have managed to find the pair of vehicle wiring to tap into for hard wire your dash cam. The wiring can be located inside the top console. Power are only provide to these wires when the vehicle is ON. They turn on and off at the same time as 12V and USB sockets in the car.

You'll need:
1. 12V to 5V USB dash cam hard wire adapter
2. Hex type screw head

Hopefully my instructions are clear and simple to follow.
Perhaps I missed something, but you can use the cam system of your car to have automatic recording of incidents with start 20s ahead and finish 20s after. I know some complained that dash cam have few more functions however this way I have surround view recorded when needed
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      09-09-2019, 10:12 PM   #7
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Where did you mount the control box? Is it concealed?
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      09-09-2019, 10:17 PM   #8
lukehhhhh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
Perhaps I missed something, but you can use the cam system of your car to have automatic recording of incidents with start 20s ahead and finish 20s after. I know some complained that dash cam have few more functions however this way I have surround view recorded when needed
Unfortunately I don't have the Drive Recorder app available to download. When it does become available I'll definite download it.
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      09-09-2019, 10:18 PM   #9
lukehhhhh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djxilo View Post
Where did you mount the control box? Is it concealed?
There are plenty of room in the cavity between the headliner and roof to wedge it somewhere.
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      09-10-2019, 07:03 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
Perhaps I missed something, but you can use the cam system of your car to have automatic recording of incidents with start 20s ahead and finish 20s after. I know some complained that dash cam have few more functions however this way I have surround view recorded when needed
Unfortunately I don't have the Drive Recorder app available to download. When it does become available I'll definite download it.
I got this app standard on my 2020, I assume this means should be available for everyone now?
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      09-10-2019, 07:51 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
I got this app standard on my 2020, I assume this means should be available for everyone now?
I am still on software version 03/2019.60 with no available update whenever I searched. My X7 was built in the last month of MY2019, it sucks how the software and functions are different.
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      09-10-2019, 09:14 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
I got this app standard on my 2020, I assume this means should be available for everyone now?
I am still on software version 03/2019.60 with no available update whenever I searched. My X7 was built in the last month of MY2019, it sucks how the software and functions are different.
Sorry to hear that, do you have WiFi plan from att? As updates are loaded they this I assume
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      09-10-2019, 05:10 PM   #13
lukehhhhh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
Sorry to hear that, do you have WiFi plan from att? As updates are loaded they this I assume
What software version are you on?

I am in Australia, not sure about how ATT WiFi plan works. But I am subscribed to BMW connected drive and all its supposed goodies.
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      09-10-2019, 06:51 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
Sorry to hear that, do you have WiFi plan from att? As updates are loaded they this I assume
What software version are you on?

I am in Australia, not sure about how ATT WiFi plan works. But I am subscribed to BMW connected drive and all its supposed goodies.
I am in travel so will. Red to check later what software is there. Att gives WiFi on board of the car and as I understand this is how the data gets pulled to the car. I would imagine there will be provider in Australia in USA it is $15 a month unlimited with first 3 month or 3 Gb as trial
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      09-10-2019, 10:19 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MB21 View Post
I got this app standard on my 2020, I assume this means should be available for everyone now?
The Video Recorder is available to 202 models only.

My software version is 07/2019.47 probably the latest but there are no signs of it in it.
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      09-15-2019, 10:38 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
I used a multimeter to find the wires that provided 12V power when engine is on. Switch off the engine and wait until the 12V socket and car USB to turn off. Then retest the wires from step 1, if any of the wire pairs voltage drops off, then Bingo!
How did you splice the wires? Did you use a crimper or a t tap? I took a stab at this earlier and decided to order some crimp connectors before cutting the wires in the harness. Not much slack in the wiring to get a good splice.
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      09-16-2019, 07:49 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djxilo View Post
How did you splice the wires? Did you use a crimper or a t tap? I took a stab at this earlier and decided to order some crimp connectors before cutting the wires in the harness. Not much slack in the wiring to get a good splice.
The tip of the wires of my 12v-to-5v adapter are coated (probably solder) and are rigid enough for me to push them directly into the corresponding wires in the vehicle's harness.

I can wedge my wires into the harness with a snug fit. I then tape the wires so they won't move or pull out.

Using this method I have not physically tapped or spliced into any of the vehicle's wiring.
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      09-16-2019, 08:12 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lukehhhhh View Post
The tip of the wires of my 12v-to-5v adapter are coated (probably solder) and are rigid enough for me to push them directly into the corresponding wires in the vehicle's harness.

I can wedge my wires into the harness with a snug fit. I then tape the wires so they won't move or pull out.

Using this method I have not physically tapped or spliced into any of the vehicle's wiring.
Good suggestion. I'll give that a try!
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      10-03-2019, 05:50 PM   #19
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Omg this post is awesome! Appreciate it
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      07-04-2021, 09:25 AM   #20
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I was able to hardwire my Valentine One Gen 2 following these instructions. It works as expected. Thank you for the great instructions.

The most difficult thing is splicing into the power wire. While the connectors grab the wire, I had to abrade the insulation carefully to expose eventually the wire. The wires are very thin.
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      07-04-2021, 09:52 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreddyBMW View Post
The Video Recorder is available to 202 models only.

My software version is 07/2019.47 probably the latest but there are no signs of it in it.
Mine is a MY2019 and I was recently able to pay and subscribe for the drive recorder via connected drive. Probably silly as I already have the car-eye 2 installed. Just wanted to see what it was like...
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      07-04-2021, 09:53 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JFU View Post
Nice. I love how minimally invasive it is versus the traditional tap into the fuse box. I might have to give this a try!
Actually the purpose of the fuse tap is to blow the fuse rather than the entire electronics, in case something happens and the dash cam takes more electricity than it should be
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